schneider



E. SCHNEIDER. GUN Fon ACCGMPAMYING ATTAcKmG TsooPs.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 2B. [920. 1,346,562.

Patented July 13, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

if l

/ l/l/ 1/ l /77 E. SCHNEIDER.

GUN Fon AccoMPmvmG ATTAcKtNG TRoPs.

MPLICATION HLED Fia. 28. |920.

1 ,346,562. Patented July 13, 1920.

E SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. SCHNEIDER.

GUN Fon AccoMF/LNYING ATIACKING TRooPs.

Patented July 13, 1920.

B SMITS-SHEET 4.

MFLICATION FILED FEB. 28. |920.

E. SCHNEIDER.

GUN Fon AccoMPANYmG ArrAcKlNc TnooPs.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 2E. |920. 1,346,562. Patented July 13,1920.

Patented July 13, 1920.

B SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. SCHNEIDER.

GUN FOR AccoMPANYING AUACKING TRooPs.

AFFLICATIUK FILED FEB. 2B, i920.

Patented July 13, 1920.

B SHEE I'S-SNEIT 14 E. SCHNEIDER.

uuu Fon AccoMPANYING Ancxmc RnoPs.

APPLICATIOI FILED IEB. 28 i920. 1,346,562. Patented J uly 13, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET E.

/t////7// AWV/ f/ /1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGNE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SCHNEIDER GIE., OF PARIS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

GUN FOR ACCOMPANYING ATTACKING TROOPS.

Specicatlon o! Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application led February 28, 1920. Serial No. 362,114.

To all whom t may concern:

1 Be it known that I, EUGNE SCHNEIDER, of Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guns for Accompanying Attacking Troops, which invention is fully set forth in the following speciication.

' The present invention has for its object .to provide an improved construction of the gun designed for accompanying attacking troops for which a patent was applied for on 24th October, 1919; Serial Number 383,103. The present invention also consists in various improvements in the said gun.

Examples of the said iniprpved construction and of the said, improvements are illustrated in detail in the accompanying draw-- ings in which:

Complementary Figures l and l are a side elevation of the improved gun accordingr to the present invention.

Complementary Figs. 2 and 2 are a corresponding plan showing the Shaft-like trails.

Complementary Figs. 3 and 3:l are a side elevation drawn to a larger scale, 'partly in section on the lino l-l of Figs. 4 and 4,

L various parts being broken away to show the`constructional details of the gun.

omplementaryFigs. 4 and 4 are a corresponding partial horizontal section.

Complementary Figs and 5r areia rear end elevation ofthe gun, the barrel-like casing for supporting the gun carriage being shown in fcross section on the line 3-`3 oE Fig. Y ll Figs. 6 and 7 are partial detail vertical sections showing `in two different positions the apparatus for operating flaps in the Yshell of the casing that are turned down for firing and turned up when the gun is to be transported. i

Fig. S is a sectional elevation illustrating the mounting of the bracket carrying the sighting apparatusjon one of the trnn- 'ni'ons ofthe 'barrel-like gun carriage calsing, and the mechanical connection between the sighting apparatus proper and the gun cradle.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing respectively in 'i'ull lines `and in dot and dash lines, two different positions of' the combined barrellike gun carriage casing and shaft-like trails for two different firing elevations of the un,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating the maneuver of running the gun gack into battery position in case of a mis- In the same manner as in the construe tional forms described .in our aforesaid application Jfor patent, the gun is completely inclosed in a barrel-like casing A closed at two ends B, Bl and provided in its axis with two trunnions F, F1. 0n each of these trnnnions there is mounted loosely a collar (i, G* provided with a truncated conical sleeve g, g1 for the engagement of the correspondingly shaped ends of the shaft-like trails, for transporting the gun.

The gun barrel E is carried by a cradle C engaged at its rear end by means of a sleeve c on a pivot pin d fixed to a metal plate D termin part of the casing A and ofthe internal s meet metal supports D1.

D2, Ds are reinforcing plates which may be arranged symmetrically with relation to the plate D on the one hand and the plates D1 on the other hand.

The cradle C engages with its front part a guide D4 of are shape centered at the axle pin (Z and fixed to the plate D. An operating mechanism ot any known suitable construction allows of turning the combined cradleand gun barrel on the pivot d.

This mechanism comprises for instance a.

shaft U as shown in the drawings, jonrnaled in the cradle C, `on the forward end of which there is fixed a helical Wheel U1. This Wheel meshes with a helical wheel U2 lixed on a shaft UB that carries a worm U4. The latter meshes with helical teeth formed 'on an arc D"s that may be fixed to the guide D4, and is centered on the pivot pin d. Rotational motion can he imparted to the shaft U by means of a crank handle u.

The hub of the crank handle carries a .spin-u1 movable in a slot u2 in the shaft U.

Accordingas the spur u. vis moved right up to the front or right np to the back of the slot n2, `thecranlrhandle can he caused to disappear `insidethe casing A for transport, or it iswithdrawn from the casing, for training the gun after the flaps A, A2, have been let down,

The training mechanism just described does not comprise any particular character# istic feature. other than the arrangement for causing the crank handle or the hand Wheel to disappear into the casing.

In-the example described, the improved un comprises tivo recoil brakes E1 ot` any own type, of which E1 are the cylinders moving with the gun barrel inthe recoil.

E2 are the brake piston rodslired to the the transmission connecting the tvvo tension cradle C. lE are springsarranged around the brake cylinders El; they `are compressed by the recoil and their expansion serves to return the gun into battery position again.

One of the characteristic features oi the improved gun consists in the particular construction of the shaft-like trails for the purpose of providing a simple mechanism for elevating the gun barrel.

For this purpose the trails cachot which is pivotable at its rearend t on a pin i carried by ananchoring device I, are adapted to be simultaneously shortened or lengthened by the same amount by means ot a common actuating mechanism. i

In the example shown, this mechanism comprises for each trail (composed of two sections H1, H?) a tensioning device, such as a rod with right and left handed screvv` threads Kl, K2 engagingA in corresponding internal screivthreads 'formed in the tubular sections H1, H2( One of these tensioning devices, for instance the left vhand one, has fixed on it an operating member LL The transmission or gearingconnecting the two tensioning .devices K1, may for instance be constructed as shown inldetail in Figs, 2 and 2*. The screwjthreaded'elements K2 are tubular and the rear end of eachV serves as a guide for a square element fc5 of a shaft K which is journaled at itsfrear 'end in a bearing provided inthe trail section H Each oftheshafts K5 carries a bevel pinion K* meshing with a pinion K5 carried by a pin fc5 likewise journale'd in a bearingI in the respective section H2. The pins E are; in

line with each other and are operatively connected together by a sleeve K". Thelatter thus constitutes one of the elements'of devices, While it can 4also serve' as a push bar for the trails during transport.

The lengthening or shorteningA of the trails l-, H2 'is roduced as aheady described, by actuatlng in the desired direction the member L so as to move the sections H1 away from or' nearer to the sections H2. For the purpose of assuring the rigidity of the. combination, during both Iiring and transport, a staying arrangement 4may be provided between the sections H?, consisting of rods h2 pivoted on the saidsections HH these rods beinglconnectedif desired at one end by means of an assemblin pin ha. The

rods fr may, like the bar it", e adapted to be folded a 'ainst the sides of the' shaft-like trails as in icated in dot 'and-dashli'nes in y tance traversed Fier. 2a. This folding may become necessary eitlier in the case of the gun being drawn by a horse or a mule, or in the case Where it is desired to dismount the shaft-like trails for the purpose of transport.; Even when the gun has been brought up to the iiring line, it may be'necessary todismount the shaft-like trails, in order to use them as a bridge for the transport of the gun when it is required to move the `latter over a ditch or a trench. The diagrammatic Fig. 9 shows honr a simultaneous shortening of the shaft-like trails by a given amount enables the gun Cbarrel with its accessories or the gun cradle with its accessories to be elevated through an angle a. it 'is evident that the shortening ci' the trails, starting from 'the position to roll over ing in contact with the groun This it, around lthe axis ot the trunnions F.

.casing in rolling along the ground will move through a distance, carrying with it the gun E. This will produce an elevation of the gun through an angle a; 4the arc of this angle, measured along the central circle of the casing A, is a development of the dis- A by av point of the said circle along a line tangential to the latter.

For the purpose of affording rigidity dur ing firing, the improved gun isprovided with tie-rods N for connecting the sections H2 to the ends B, B1 of the barrel-like casing. These tie rods N which may be hinged up to the trails during transport, ma be left in position during the alteration o the elevation, if the position of their pivotal connection to the barrel-like casing is suitably chosen.

nother improvement of this invention consists inv a mechanism for actuating the flaps A1 A?, for the purpose of opening them when the gun is run into lbattery position, and for locking them for transport on a vehicle 'for rolling alon the ground.

As.shownindetail in *igs 6 and 'l' each of these flaps is pivoted. at one of its longitudinal edges by means of twoV hinges al to the casino' A. vlt is lformed on its opposite 4edge' witlniltivo socketsfq for engagement `the sockets a2. which were engaged on the said axle are now'fre'e-s'o that the flaps are able .to fall. `dovvn by. their own 4Weight or -by the action of'a. returnin spring. The

engagement ofthe aps is one While the ax e is inthe sameposition (Fig. 7) the {iaps .being of course raised b hand into `their closed; positionshown in 4ig. 6.' l Their locking, 1s assured immediately the axles J `frame J2 serving as a rest :wa-l1 with a helical groove 0 of have been turned to bring them into the position shown in the said Fig. (i.

The bearings for the axles J may be formed on brackets J fixed to the inside wall of the casing A. These brackets may preferably be arranged to reject from a or the edge of the flap A1 inits closed position; the said frame being rovided for this purpose with a rubber ac ing jg. By fectly tig t closure, of` the casing is produced which allows of transporting a gun across rivers by floating the gun carriage casing.

The simultaneous actuation oit the two axles J for opening the flaps A1, A?, may be effected as shown in the drawings.

On each of the axles J there is fixed a toothed wheel J 3 connected by a chain J 4 to a corresponding;r toothed wheel J 5 fixed on a shaft J6 for which `a bearing is formed by one of the trunnions F1 of thebarrel-shap'ed casingr A. The outer end of the shaft J is provided with an operatings hand wheel ji. This hand wheel j may be locked by a bolt.

The improved gun is further characterized by a peculiar mounting of the bracket 'for the sightingr apparatus upon one of the trunnions of the casing, and a connection between the sighting apparatus proper, movable in said bracket, and ther-gun carriage cradle.

This mounting is shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and `S.

The bracket M for the sighting apparatus has two ribs m downwardly converging for engaging in corresponding guide grooves iormed in the outer end of the trunnion I". In this bracket M there is journaled a screw MX provided with a tenon fm1 formed with `Hats and which when the bracket .M is engagged in the trunnion F, fits in the end of a sleeve O capable of turnin in the trunnion F: This sleeve is former on its inside varying pitch in which engages a tenen p projecting `from a rod P engaged in the `sleeve O. The lower end of this rod is pivoted at p1 to the cradle C.

It will be .readily understood that at each Vmovement of the cradle C by meansor` the training .mechanism operated by the 4crank handle u, there corresponds `an Vangular movement of the sleeve OV carrying the screw MP around with it. The sighting apparatus proper is movable 4in the bracket'Mand is lforxned on its supporting stem g' with helical teeth q1 meshing With the "Worm M1.

By suitably shaping the helical groove o, the sighting apparatus ,proper Q'may be given angular displacements `that areifdentically` the same as thosegiven to the combined cradle and .gun barrel around the axisof the trunnion d; y

The lgun may be constructed in the. lmown this means a pery allows of locking the gun barrel dining,r its recoil and unlocking it at the time of iiring. In this case as is well known there is producedV a movement of the run barrel in the forward direction rclatively to the gun carriage, and this displacement diminishes the velocity of' recoil by a corresponding amount. It is to be understood that the recuperators are suitably constructed for this purpose.

In a gun of that kind, in the case of a misi-ire, that is to say, when the firing ofthe gun has not produced an explosion of the charge, it is necessary to return the gun barrel into liiattery position.

According to this invention a simple device is provided for eflopting this rearward movement of the gun barrel.

The gun barrel is provided with a fasteningdevice such an eye or ring e (Fig. 3`) for one oi the ends of a rope Il which passes over a pulley S movable on an axle e that is carried for instance by a block h4 fixed to the pin la. (Figi. l). The other end o'l this rope can be attached to a ring a provided on the casingr A.

The diagrammatic Fig.

manner which '1U shows in full lines the "un barrel E broulfht b f the ret? P1 e cuperators into position I and stopped in this position by reason of' the noiroperation of the firing mechanism.

F o1' the sake of simplicity it is assumed that the firing took place when the gun harrel was in a horizontalposition, but that whatever its angle of firing may be, it is necessary for compressing the recupcrator springs, to first bring the gun barrel by operating the elevating mechanism, to a determined elevation, say 20", as indicated in dot and dash line in the same diagram (1)0 sition II).

Then this operation has been done, the rope R- is attached in place and by means oi: the elevating mechanism the gun barrel is brought into the horizontal position III indicated in dotted lines. In this movement the casing!` which occupied position Il. assumes position III, whereas the anchoringr device remains stationary. Since the length of the rope is constant the casing has Vmoved 'forward while the lsnm barrel has been moved to the rearinto the position in which it can be locked for loading. In this position the rope can be removed, and the tiring; operations resumed.v

In the improved construction, the casing A is provided with a rolling tread T oi: rubber,`leather or any other suitable material.

What I claim is:

l. In a gun-mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll. on the ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings, and liaps for closing said llO openings to complete the periphery of the casing Vfor rolling on the -ground during trans ortation.

2. n a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and'having in its periphery diametri'cally opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casin in linerwith said openings,'flaps for closing said open- Y ings to complete the periphery of the easing for rolling on the ground during transportation, and a tread extending around the periphery of the casing. 3. In a gun mount, the eombinationof va barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its 4periphery diametrically oppositeV openings, a gun mounted inthe casing in line with said openings,`laps for closing said open vings to complete the periphery of the easing forrolling on the ground during transportation, .trunnions on the opposite ends of `the easing inline with the axis thereof, vand trails journaled on the trunnions4 available either-:for propelling the easing during transportation or for anchoring the gun during tiring.

Il. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the groundfor transportation and having in its periphery diametrieally opposite openings, a gun mountedi'n the easing in line with said openings, flaps A:for closing said openings to complete the periphery7 of the cas- '35 ing for rolling on the ground duringtr'ansf portatiomtrunnions on-the opposite. ends of the easingV in line with the axis thereof,

longitudinally adjustable trails journaled at their front ends on the trunnions, means for 40 anchoring the rear ends of the trails, and

means for adjusting` the length of the trails to rollthe easing on the ground to vary the elevation-of thegun. Y

5. 'In a Vgun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped lcasing adapted to rollon thev ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings,

a gun mounted in the casing in line with said=openings, flaps for 'closing said openings to eomplete the periphery ofthe casing for rollingon the ground dnringtransl portation, trunnions on the opposite ends of f the easing in liney withl the axis thereof,

longitudinally adjustable trails j ournaled at then' front ends on the trunnions, means for anchoring the rear ends of the trails, and operative mechanism common tol both trails for simultaneously adjusting the lengthof the same to roll the easing on `the ground to vary the elevation of the guni l 6. lIn a' gun mount, the. combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and'having in its periphery diametrically oppositeopenings, a gunlmountedtin the easingin line with loperatin said openings, fiaps for closing said openings to complete the periphery of-the easing for rolling on the ground during transportation, trunnions onl the opposite ends of the easing in line with theaxis thereof, seetional trails journaled at their front ends on the trunnions, and means for anchoring the rear ends ofthe trails, the sections of each tral being connected by a rotatable element having opposite'ly screwthreaded engage- 75 ments With the contiguous ends ofthe see tions'so that the tnrnin of said element in one direction Will' lengt en the trail and in the opposite direction will shorten it, the lengthening and shortening of both trails B0 operating to roll the casing on the ground to vary the elevation of the gun.

7. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped easing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having'in its B5 Vperiphery diametrically opposite openings,

a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings, flaps fo'relosing said openingsto complete the periphery of the casing for rolling on the ground during transpor- HU tation,v trunnions on the opposite ends of the easing in line withthe axis thereof, sectional trails ljournaled at their front ends on the trunnions, and means for anchoring therear'ends of the trails, the sections of 95 eac'h trail beingV connected by a rotatable element having oppositely serewthreaded engagements with the eontiguo-us ends of the sections so that the turnin Vof said element inone direction will lengt en the trail and in the opposite direction Will shorten it, the lengthening and shortening of both trails 0 to roll the easing on the ground to vary the elevation of the gun, and means for simultaneously turning the rotatable elements of both trails to lengthen or to shorten simultaneously Aboth trails.

8. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrieally opposite openings,

a gun mounted in the easing Vinline With said openings, flaps for closing said openings to complete the periphery of the casing for rolling on the ground during transportation, trunnions on the opposite ends of `the casing in line with the axis thereof, seetional trails journaled at their front ends on the trunni'onaand means for anchoring the rear ends ofthe trails, the sections of each trail being connected by a rotatable element having oppositely serewthreaded engagements with the contiguous-ends of the sections so that the-turning of said element in one vdirection will-lengthen the trail and in the opposite direction will shorten it, the lengthening and "shortening oty both trails operating to roll-the' casing on the ground to vary the elevationvof the gun, means for turning the =rotatablevelement of one trail,

and means 'for transmittinff the movement of the turning eleneht to t e rotatable ele* ment of the other trail to lengthen or to shorten simultaneously both trails.

9. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in hne with said openinvs, iiaps for closing said openings to complete the periphery of the casing for rolling on the ground during transportation, trunnions on the opposite ends oi' the casing in line with the asis thereof, trails journaled on the trunnions available either for propellino` the casing during transportation or for andlioring the gun during firing, and a displaceable `iframe comprising 'foldable members adjustable to connect the trails.

I0. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings, flaps for closing said openings to complete the periphery of the casing for rolhng on the ground during transportation, trunnions on the opposite ends of the casing in line with the axis thereof, trails journaled on the trunnions available either for propelling the casing durin' transportation or i'or anchoring the gun c uring iii-infr, and a displaceable frame comprising foldable members hinged to the trails and adjustable to Jform diagonal connections between the trails to hold them in iixed parallel arrangement.

1l. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-sha ed casing adapted to roll on the rounc for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openin s, flaps for closing ete the periphery of said openings to comp the casing for rolling on the ground during transportation, and a lock Jfor each flap to secure the same in closed position during transportation. t

12. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings, flaps for closing said openings to complete the periphery oi the casing for rolling on the ground during transportation, a lock for each flap to secure the same in closed position during transportation, and means operative from the exterior of the Casin to actnate simultaneously the locks 'to re ease both iaps preliminary to firing.

13. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground for transportation and having in its will move the casing on periphery diametrically opposite openings, a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings, flaps iior closing said openings to complete the periphery of the casing for rolling on the ground during transportation, trunnions on the opposite ends of the casin r in line with the axis thereof, trails journals on the trunnions available either for propelling the casing during transportation or Jfor anchoring the gun during firing, a lock for each fiap to secure the same in closed position during transportation, a rotatable element in each lock to actuate the same, a shaft journaled in one of the trunnions provided with turning means exterior of the casing, and mechanism connecting the shaft with the rotatable element of each lock so that the turning oi the shaft will actuate simultaneously the locks to release both flaps preliminary to firing.

14. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground and having in its periphery diametrically opposite openings, a carriage carrying a gun mounted in the casing in line with said openings and pivoted therein for training` the gun through one oi' said openings, trunnions on opposite ends oi the casing in line with the axis thereof, trails journaled at their front ends on the tlunnions, means for anchoring the rear ends of the trails, a bracket carrying sighting apparatus mounted on one of the trunnions, and mechanism for transmitting the traininor movement oi the gun carriage through the trunnion carrying the bracket to the sighting apparatus on said bracket.

l5. In a gun mount, the combination of a barrel-shaped casing adapted to roll on the ground and having in the periphery diametrirally opposite openings, a gun and brake mechanism carried by a carriage mounted in the casing in line with said openings, said brake mechanism operating to move the gun forward on the carriage at the moment of firing, trunnions on the opposite ends of the easing in line with the axis thereof, extensible trails journaled at their front ends on the trunnions, means for anchoring the rear ends of the trails, and a rope connected at one end to the gun and at the other end to the casing and loo ed around a pulley carried by the rear en of the trails so that an extension ot the trails the ground to rotate the same, the rotation of the easing exerting a pull on the rope to return the gun to batter position from firing position.

n testimony Whereo I have signed this specification.-

ANDR Mosrronnn, Louis Garner. 

